josephine movie review
Cast: Mason Reeves, Gemma Chan, Channing Tatum, Philip Ettinger
Director: Beth D’Araujo
Rating: ★★★★★
A horrific crime occurs in the first ten minutes of Josephine, Beth D’Araujo’s sophomore film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. 8-year-old Josephine (Mason Reeves in his acting debut). While on a routine soccer run in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park with her father Damian (played by Channing Tatum), she accidentally witnesses a sexual assault. A man rapes a jogger outside a public bathroom. As it turns out, Josephine is the only eyewitness to the crime, and the film follows her perspective as she grapples with what she sees and what it really means.
Base
Nothing can really prepare you for the gut punch that Josephine delivers, which then provides space for healing and conversation on a difficult topic that is both surprising and sensitive. Gemma Chan plays Josephine’s mother Claire, who is keen to take her to a psychologist to discuss everything that happens in the park. But before that could happen, Josephine had already Googled the meaning of rape and started showing distress signs at school.
At home, Josephine remains haunted by the criminal’s presence. His face is always present, like a ghost who sits in the room with him. Damien and Claire try their best to defuse the situation, but change has already happened, and the most they can do is make Josephine understand that not everyone means harm. Josephine asks questions; She wants to know more.
what works
Working with cinematographer Greta Zozula, de Araújo takes a bold leap and conveys the long-lasting impact of seeing this act of violence entirely through the eyes of a child. Some scenes are remarkably constructed, such as the one at the dinner table, where the lawyer brings important news about the case. As Josephine arrives and plays, the camera continues to rotate, even as the ghost in the room sits and watches. Then there’s the montage, which harmonizes the conflicts, terrors and conflicts to breathtaking effect.
Araújo’s mise-en-scene is atmospheric and extremely intense. The visual language is broad yet intimate, not so stylized as to lose the emotional intrigue at the centre. Araújo presents an authentic portrait of lost innocence, inviting the audience to be with Joséphine from the beginning and placing the onus on them to patiently observe and empathize with this child until the end.
final thoughts
A lot is asked of child actor Mason Reeves in the lead role, and on top of that, the movie practically rests on his face for the most part. It’s a complex and incredibly convincing performance to watch, full of raw emotional power, where Reeves’ face acts as a blank canvas to show hundreds of tiny micro-aggressions. She begins to respond and challenge what is said to her, which later leads to a cruel clapback at a key scene. Channing Tatum is also great as a father who wants to do the right thing, even if it’s not always for the best. This is his best performance till date. Gemma Chan brings just the right amount of humility to the role, reminding her daughter to do what’s best for her.
Josephine is a difficult film; It seeks to ask difficult questions that will make everyone in the room uncomfortable. It leaves a devastating, soul-shattering impact. In a world where rape culture is at its peak, how do we protect our children? What hope can they be given in an unfair world full of violence and indifference? De Araújo has created a blistering, entertaining film that demands unblinking attention. Josephine is a huge success, and one of the first great films of the year.
Shantanu Das is covering the Sundance Film Festival as an accredited member of the press.